Tag: parenting

If you want your child to be God-honoring, it is important that you bring God into conversations with your child on a regular basis. For your child to grow to respect the Creator, you need to be acknowledging the Creator. Find a creative way three to four times a day to bring God into your conversations with your child. If you don’t, who will be doing this?

If you do lose your temper when applying discipline to your child and end up acting like a child yourself, you need to cool down, breath, and then sit down with your child and apologize for your inappropriate behavior. Your child needs to see you admit wrong when you are wrong. When your behavior is not appropriate ask your child for forgiveness in handling the situation poorly. Allow your apology to be a teaching moment for your child.

As a parent, you should discipline in a direct and intentional way that demonstrates to your child that you are in control and that the behavior requiring discipline is not acceptable. When you are “out of control” in giving discipline, your child will very likely ignore the discipline. Your child may be sitting down on the outside, but standing up on the inside. Be the parent, not an adult kid. There is no reason to “lose your temper.”

Discipline is a part of growing up. As a parent, this is your responsibility. However, don’t allow your discipline to be an adult shouting match where the child sees you more out of control that he or she is. Parents often “loose it.” When this happens, the child ends up being confused by the action.

More than anything, your child wants focused time with you. Everyday life can be full of adventure and packed full of great learning experiences. At the end of the day, make up a story that involved the same experience you had with your child that day. Andy Ant stories were all initially based on things my daughter did the same day. Create a teaching character that lasts in the child’s mind for a lifetime.